Anyone using Johnson Silver Minnow?

[Eddie101]

I used it when I was a kid, and then it somehow became a forgotten lure. After reading about it here, I started using it again, and the action looks very convincing. So, who's into this spoon?  

[Mobasser]

I use the Silver Minnow. I like it in the hottest part of summer, when weeds are the thickest. I like the chrome model, with a Zoom twin tail trailer. 

[Eddie101]

3 minutes ago, Mobasser said:

I use the Silver Minnow. I like it in the hottest part of summer, when weeds are the thickest. I like the chrome model, with a Zoom twin tail trailer. 

Do you cut any portion of the trailer to accommodate the hook?

[Mobasser]

4 minutes ago, Eddie101 said:

Do you cut any portion of the trailer to accommodate the hook?

The trailer I like is 4" long. I just thread it onto the hook, and use it like that.

[Mobasser]

I might also add to spend a little extra time sharpening the hook on the Silver Minnow. Makes a big difference in fish caught

[Eddie101]

10 minutes ago, Mobasser said:

I might also add to spend a little extra time sharpening the hook on the Silver Minnow. Makes a big difference in fish caught

Yes, I noticed that even the new ones are not sticky sharp as I'd like. What tool do you use?

[Smells like fish]

Mo, do you use the fat Albert or the split tail like we use have on spinnerbaits and the original chatterbaits? What color?

[Mobasser]

I use a small wet stone, and just pull the hook over it. There's lots of good hook sharpening tools you can use. Do the old fingernail test. If it sticks as you pull it over your fingernail it's sharp. If it slides over your fingernail, it needs some more work.

Just now, Smells like fish said:

Mo, do you use the fat Albert or the split tail like we use have on spinnerbaits and the original chatterbaits? What color?

I use the thinner Zoom twin tail trailer. I think they made it as a spinnerbait trailer originally, but it works good on the spoon. I usually use chartruese. If you can't find these, a 4" piece of plastic worm, a spinnerbait skirt, or a chunk trailer are good also. I think the Fat Albert would work good too.

For me, seems like the slower I can keep it coming across the weeds, the better. Most fish really slam it.

[TnRiver46]

I aim to try it a lot between now and Christmas as our milfoil in the Downtown area hangs around through fall. I threw it in grass beds in Alabama during a shad spawn But the gar wouldn’t leave it alone 

[Mobasser]

The JSM has been around a long time. Like most baits, I can't get the fish to hit it all the time, but, I usually give it a few cast, lately, the last 30min before dark. Some nights a fish will hit it, other nights not. It's a fun lure to fish. " The Weedless Wonder".

[Captain Phil]

35 minutes ago, Mobasser said:

I use a small wet stone, and just pull the hook over it. There's lots of good hook sharpening tools you can use.

Here's the sharpener you want.

[Eddie101]

22 minutes ago, Mobasser said:

 

For me, seems like the slower I can keep it coming across the weeds, the better. Most fish really slam it.

+1

[PourMyOwn]

I still throw them, and use a wire leader because pike and pickerel love the things.

[Eddie101]

Oh, forgot to ask: what lb test line(s) do you guys use? I'm using 10 lb braid with a 6 or 8 lb leader. Maybe I should stick with 8 lb or heavier. I don't know.

[TnRiver46]

3 minutes ago, Eddie101 said:

Oh, forgot to ask: what lb test line(s) do you guys use? I'm using 10 lb braid with a 6 or 8 lb leader. Maybe I should stick with 8 lb or heavier. I don't know.

In grass I throw it on 65 straight braid 

[.ghoti.]

Here is a hook sharpener that will never rust

 

https://www.amazon.com/Smiths-DCS4-4-Inch-Diamond-Sharpening/dp/B00009YV6L/ref=sr_1_5?dchild=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIxbX47L-l6wIVOYNaBR145gdEEAMYAyAAEgI8TPD_BwE&hvadid=177775471437&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9022564&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=13026233732729353456&hvtargid=kwd-11036716345&hydadcr=1642_9901529&keywords=folding+diamond+sharpener&qid=1597779473&sr=8-5&tag=googhydr-20

[Captain Phil]

1 hour ago, Eddie101 said:

Oh, forgot to ask: what lb test line(s) do you guys use? I'm using 10 lb braid with a 6 or 8 lb leader. Maybe I should stick with 8 lb or heavier. I don't know.

A Johnson spoon is made for fishing heavy topped out grass.   Use twenty pound mono or 30 pound braid at a minimum.  

[Eddie101]

1 hour ago, TnRiver46 said:

In grass I throw it on 65 straight braid 

Whoa!!

[river-rat]

I've been using the Silver Minnow for over 50 years. It's one of my primary tools when I'm fishing heavy vegetation of any sort during the late spring to mid-fall periods. I always have a rod rigged with one. And I use 50-65# braid all the time.

[Eddie101]

7'3" Frog rod may do the trick?  

[Bankbeater]

I have some of these in my dad's old box.  Looks like I'm going to be fishing with them.

[Fishin' Fool]

How do you fish one of those guys slow like a jig or steady retrieve or something else? I know my dad had some back in the day.

[TnRiver46]

40 minutes ago, Eddie101 said:

7'3" Frog rod may do the trick?  

Yeah, in grass the thicker the better. You can’t pull fish out of grass with light line or light rod. Well you can but eventually it will end badly 

[Catt]

[Captain Phil]

13 hours ago, Fishin' Fool said:

How do you fish one of those guys slow like a jig or steady retrieve or something else? I know my dad had some back in the day.

There is no way to fish a Johnson spoon that will not catch fish. Most people I know use a slow steady retrieve.  Back in the day, we did not have reels that could cast a light plastic frog.  A Johnson spoon allows you to fish large areas of topped out grass.  You can throw them a country mile covering more water.